Sapporo Retreat – Experience Forest Therapy and Zazen Meditation with an English-Speaking Guide

• Let’s enjoy a relaxing walk in the woods of central Sapporo and try forest bathing, a Japanese practice of connecting with nature.


• You’ll get a tour of the temple from the abbot or one of the monks who speaks English well.


• Zazen is a form of meditation that is usually done in a kneeling position, but you can also use a chair if you prefer. We welcome you to join us and try it out, as long as you are comfortable and not overexerting yourself.


• Wrap up the tour with a Japanese lunch with your guide.


• You’ll have an English-speaking guide. Feel free to join us.

How about experiencing Japanese culture in Sapporo? Sapporo may have a short history, but it has a lot of traditional culture that you can enjoy in a casual and easy way. You can learn how the Japanese appreciate nature and things through various activities.

At Maruyama, in the center of the city, you can feel the seasons and nature with all your senses. At the temple, you will be guided around the grounds by the abbot or one of the monks who is fluent in English. You may find some valuable insights for your life through the zazen experience, where you sit with no purpose or goal, and the abbot’s teachings on Buddhism and Zen philosophy.

At the end of the tour, you can have a delicious Japanese lunch with an English-speaking guide and talk about your experience. Feel free to ask him or her anything you want to know about Japanese culture.